Tip of the Week - April 9

For Students Graduating in the years:

2012: Search for more schools if you need to. There are still many four-year schools accepting applications. If you are receiving more admission rejections than you anticipated, you might consider applying to a few more institutions to keep your options open. Let us know if you need assistance finding these schools.

2013: Schedule a few “Junior Days”. Junior Days, or visitation programs at colleges specifically designed for high school juniors, can give you very valuable insight into what the campus has to offer in terms of academics, extracurricular involvement and support services. Schools really like to make this experience special and informative for their prospective juniors, so we recommend taking advantage of these!

2014 & Above: Plan to do something enriching this summer. Colleges considering students for admission will look into the leadership and enrichment programs in which students take part to make admission decisions. The more valuable extracurricular involvement you have, the better. Use some time this summer to add to your resume.

Sincerely, 

Your Friends at College Planning Network

Tip of the Week - April 2, 2012

Tips for Students who graduated in:

2008-2010: Talk with your advisor about possible careers for graduates with your specific major. Your academic advisor likely has counseled many students within your major and had helped them plan for a career considering various options. Be specific and ask what types of jobs these students are best suited for and the success rate that they have at being placed in these careers.  Make sure you are gathering ideas if you’re unsure about your path. This can be especially helpful for more all-encompassing majors, such as communications, health sciences, or psychology.

2011: Establish a major if you have not already. It is highly recommended that you establish a major by your sophomore year. This leaves you with just a few months to make a concrete decision. There are often procedures you need to go through to “apply” for a specific academic program so do your homework and make sure you have fulfilled all requirements.

2012: Decide which AP tests you will take. This is your opportunity to take AP tests for your Advanced Placement classes and open the possibility of obtaining college credit for your high school course work. There is a fee associated with AP test taking so be prepared for that. Keep in mind that this fee is likely going to be significantly less than what you would pay for the college credit. Stay on top of registration deadlines for these exams.

2013 & 2014: Use DISCOVER’s college search tool. On your DISCOVER page, access the tab that says “Schools’. Then, select “search by characteristics”. Here, you can input your personal preferences for schools and the site will generate a list of possible match schools for you. You can specify criteria such as location, majors offered, selectivity, student enrollment, sports offered, and more.

2015 & Above: Be discerning with what you hear about the college process. There seems to be a lot of rumors surrounding college admissions and the financial aid process. You may hear tidbits from friends and family who have been through it. It is important to understand that every college operates differently from others and that they have their own procedures. Use your best judgment when making decisions and remember that we are here if you have questions.  You may wish to join us for our Expert Session on the Financial Aid at colleges on Tuesday, April 10^th.  You will be receiving more information on this session shortly.

Sincerely, 

Your Friends at Ensphere College Planning Services